Make Your Choices, It’s Your LIFE
The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) has reported that 43.9% of men, 1.0% of women, and 23.1% (4.7 million adults) of overall adults are currently smoking tobacco in Malaysia. This is an alarming statistic towards the hazards that smoking can pose to your health and quality of life.
No matter you have tried to stop smoking before or this seems to be your first time, undoubtedly you do know that smoking is a deadly habit. Smoking can harm almost every part of your body and is a chief cause of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease, emphysema, stroke and bronchitis. Overall, smoking is accountable for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in Malaysia.
Contents of Tobacco that Terrify You
Butance (Lighter Fluid)
Paint
Acetic Acid (Vinegar)
Hexamine (Barbecue Lighter)
Carbon Monoxide
Ammonia (Toilet Cleaner)
Cadmium (Batteries)
Nicotine (Insecticide)
Toluene (Industrial Solvent)
Methane (Sewer Gas)
Methanol (Rocket Fuel)
Stearic Acid (Candle Wax)
Arsenic (Poison)
A lot of smokers are aware of the Threats to them, but do you aware of the effects of Second Hand Smoke and Third Hand Smoke?
Second hand smoke is the smoke produced by burning tobacco products. This smoke is able to remain in the air for hours and is involuntarily inhaled by anyone nearby. Children are primarily susceptible to the effects of second hand smoke.
Health Effects In Children
Ear infections
More frequent and severe asthma attacks
Respiratory symptoms (for example, coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath)
Respiratory infections (bronchitis and pneumonia)
A greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Health Effects In Adult
1. Heart disease • For non-smokers, breathing second hand smoke has immediate harmful effects on the heart and blood vessels. • It is estimated that second hand smoke caused nearly 34,000 heart disease deaths each year during 2005-2009 among adult non-smokers in Malaysia.
2. Lung cancer • Second hand smoke exposure caused more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths each year during 2005 – 2009 among adult non-smokers in Malaysia.
3. Stroke • Smoking increases clot formation, thickens blood, and increases the amount of plaque buildup in the arteries. • Smoking increases the risk of stroke by three to four fold and exposure to environmental. Smoker in the home increases the risk by 1.5 to two fold. • Third hand smoke is generally considered to be residual nicotine and other chemicals left on a variety of indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke.
4. Studies show that third hand smoke clings to hair, skin, clothes, furniture, drapes, walls, bedding, carpets, dust, vehicles and other surfaces, even long after smoking has stopped. Infants, children and non-smoking adults may be at risk of tobacco-related health problems when they inhale, ingest or touch substances containing third hand smoke.
5. Third hand smoke residue builds up on surfaces over time and resists normal cleaning. Third hand smoke can’t be eliminated by airing out rooms, opening windows, using fans or air conditioners, or confining smoking to only certain areas of a home.
So If You Are A Smoker, What Are You Waiting Now?
What Makes Your Smoking Cessation Pathway Difficult?
Withdrawal symptoms may be generally worse for heavy smokers. Most smokers get flu-like symptoms (e.g. cough, headaches or runny nose), nausea, lethargy or even constipation. Some smokers may experience increased irritability and a decreased capability to focus on the task assigned. Some smokers may also gain weight due to increased appetite. Although the withdrawal symptoms are the worst during the first few days, may last a few weeks but usually improve with time.
But Why Are You Worried? We Are Here!!!
Health care professionals, including pharmacists, are able to assist you in assessing your request; draft an individualized plan to help you quit and address doubts that you have about quitting. Your pharmacist is a reachable health care professional who play a significant role in your plan to quit smoking.
If you do have a strong will to quit smoking, talk to your pharmacist. Pharmacists of Alpro Pharmacy are trained under the Certified Smoking Cessation Service Provider (CSCSP) programme. They are able to help you in making your aim of quit smoking to reality, by listening and providing information and advice about:
Different smoking cessation medications (both prescription and non-prescription options)
Dealing with relapses
Managing nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms
Handling with stress
General tactics to help you quit
It is really never too late to quit. STOP SMOKING help decreases the risk of heart attack and stroke by more than 40% even after your 50s. Bear this in mind “Kill Your Cigarette Before They Got You Killed.”
